Trafficking victim forced to become sex worker safely returns to PH

INQUIRER file photo / ALEXIS CORPUZ

MANILA, Philippines — After suffering a “harrowing ordeal” of sex trafficking in Malaysia, a Filipino woman has been repatriated, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Thursday.

The bureau said that the 20-year-old victim arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Wednesday.

According to the BI, the woman was originally promised a housekeeping job in Malaysia, but was eventually forced to become a sex worker. She was allegedly recruited by an internet acquaintance.

“She was held captive. Disturbingly, she was subjected to appalling conditions, including being denied food if she failed to satisfy the demands of her captors,” BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in a statement.

“She was even forced to undergo abortion when they discovered she was with child,” he added.

The BI said that the victim first traveled to Palawan and was escorted to illegally board a sailboat to Kota, Kinabalu in Malaysia. She also recalled fetching another woman who was likewise recruited by the syndicate.

The victim further recounted traveling through mountainous terrains to reach a hotel in Sibu, Malaysia, the bureau noted. They were housed there as sex workers.

According to the BI, the victim was then transferred to another hotel in Bintulu, Malaysia. The hotel was raided and the woman was jailed by Malaysian authorities.

Through the help of Malaysian police, the bureau said she was able to contact the Philippine Embassy in Malaysia.

After arriving in the country, BI noted that the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration assisted the victim.

READ: BI exposes elaborate human trafficking scheme

“This incident sheds light on the pervasive issue of recruitment and exploitation of vulnerable individuals online. The victim was made to believe that lucrative opportunities were waiting for her abroad,” Tansingco said.

READ: 3 Filipino trafficking victims repatriated from Myanmar

The BI chief expressed dismay, and emphasized the need for an increased awareness and a strong legal framework to combat sex trafficking effectively.

“This case exemplifies the heinous nature of human trafficking and the urgency to combat this abominable crime,” he lamented.

“We must remain proactive and continually collaborate among stakeholders in dismantling these trafficking networks,” he added.